Dinner for Life draws 300 supporters of pro-life cause

Was it the delectability of the fish dinner or the solemnity of the dinner’s purpose? No doubt it was both reasons that moved over three hundred people to disregard the frigid weather and attend the Dinner for Life on Friday evening, February 7. Sacred Heart’s seminarians sponsor the annual dinner, now in its fifth year. It is held in the seminary’s gymnasium to accommodate the ever-increasing attendance, with ticket proceeds going to support a local right-to-life outreach.

The event began with Mass in the main chapel celebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron, and continued with a fish and pasta dinner prepared and served by seminarians. Co-chair Mario Amore, a third-year graduate seminarian, explained the motivation for sponsoring the dinner. “The pro-life movement is very dear to us seminarians. The dinner is just a small way that we work to raise awareness and support for area pro-life organizations.” This year’s Dinner for Life raised approximately $10,000. The seminarians donated the funds to Rachel’s Vineyard Detroit, an organization that sponsors healing retreats for women and men recovering, emotionally and spiritually, from the trauma of abortion

Sacred Heart professor Dr. Mark Latkovic, graduate seminarian Deacon John Kopson, and Msgr. Tim Hogan, archdiocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, were the featured speakers. In the keynote address, Dr. Latkovic challenged the audience to work toward a world where unjust laws such as Roe v. Wade become distant memories. “All those countless babies yet born,” Latkovic said, “along with their mothers and fathers threatened by abortion are counting on us.” All three speakers inspired participants to do their part in building up the culture of life in their own communities.